Overview

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide analog of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin (residues 289–292 of the immunoglobulin heavy chain), with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension that increases plasma stability. It was developed at the V. V. Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and is registered in Russia as a treatment for anxiety. Outside Russia and a small number of neighbouring markets, Selank remains a research peptide only.

The published literature is dominated by animal studies and a limited number of Russian-language clinical trials in generalised anxiety and adjustment disorders.

Mechanism (as reported in the literature)

  • GABAergic modulation. Animal studies indicate Selank increases hippocampal GABA and modifies benzodiazepine-receptor sensitivity without acting as a direct benzodiazepine-site ligand.
  • Serotonergic and neuropeptide effects. Research characterises upregulation of BDNF expression and modulation of the enkephalinergic system in rodent models.
  • Interleukin/interferon effects. Animal studies report modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, contributing to the “neuroimmune peptide” framing used in the Russian literature.

Research findings

  • Anxiety-model studies. Rodent elevated-plus-maze and forced-swim tests report anxiolytic effects at intranasal doses of 300 μg/kg without the sedation or memory impairment typical of benzodiazepines (Kozlovskii et al., Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2007; PMID 18240571).
  • Clinical trials in Russia. Small controlled trials in generalised anxiety disorder reported improvements versus placebo on Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale scores over 14-day intervals (Zozulya et al., 2008; PMID 18689139).
  • Neurotrophic markers. Rat-brain studies report BDNF and NGF upregulation after intranasal Selank administration.

Common dosing (from published research protocols)

Published Russian protocols describe intranasal administration of 400–900 μg per day, divided into two or three intranasal doses. Community research writeups typically report 100–400 mcg per intranasal administration, one to three times daily.

Reconstitution

A 5 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water yields a 2,500 mcg/mL solution. This is typically drawn into an intranasal dropper or measured with a U-100 syringe for volumetric transfer to a spray applicator.

  • 100 mcg = 0.04 mL = 4 units on a U-100 syringe
  • 250 mcg = 0.10 mL = 10 units
  • 400 mcg = 0.16 mL = 16 units

Storage

Reconstituted Selank is described as stable refrigerated at 2–8 °C for approximately 30 days. Lyophilised material is shipped at ambient temperature.

  • Semax — a related nootropic ACTH fragment developed at the same institute.
  • DSIP — a distinct sleep-associated peptide studied in the same neuropeptide research tradition.

Common stacks

References

  • Zozulya, A. A., et al. (2008). “The efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic drug Selank in patients with generalised anxiety disorder and neurasthenia.” Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 145(2). PMID 18689139.
  • Kozlovskii, I. I., et al. (2007). “The nootropic and antiamnestic effects of the Russian medicine Selank.” Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. Korsakova.
  • Kolomin, T. A., et al. (2013). “Transcriptomic response of rat hippocampus and spleen cells to Selank.” Molecular Biology, 47(1). PMID 23705500.